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Sunday, October 25, 2015

These dreams go on when I close my eyes

Owning a shore house has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. One day I'll own a shore house and ... Many a daydream started like that. When MFD and I got together we spun those daydreams hard. Over the years we've spent what I'm sure amounts to months talking about what we'd do if we owned a shore house. When we own a shore house, we can...go down in the off-season, check in whenever we want, bring the dogs, have an outdoor shower, see the sunrise over the ocean every weekend, go fishing, ride around on beach cruisers, stay late on Sundays. If we can just get our foot in the door, maybe we can...upgrade to a house to the beach or the bay one day, sell more shore real estate, buy a boat, retire down here.

But I didn't really believe the dream would ever become a reality. Due to various circumstances over the years it seemed so far out of reach that it was destined to remain what it had always been - a daydream.

As of today, it's no longer a day dream. We own a freaking shore house. It doesn't seem real to either of us. Is this our life? Is this happening? How did we get here?

The abbreviated version: MFD wanted to move out of our Philly row home into a house in Bucks County with more land and privacy, keeping our current house as an investment property. I was amenable to a move, but everything was too far and too expensive. I casually suggested looking for an investment property at the shore, nothing crazy, so we did that for a while. Nothing was clicking...until it did.

I'm so many things right now...grateful, excited, overwhelmed. For the past three months I've been those things plus anxious, worried, distracted, counting pennies, indecisive, uncertain, scared of the risk, doubtful, and afraid of failing in this venture. I spent a lot of time looking for the adults to figure it all out only to find out we were the adults in the scenario. This is part of our retirement plan. Planning for retirement is an alternate way to spell adult, I think.

I asked myself if we were ready...then I thought what a dumb question to ask... I never know if I'm ready for something until I take the plunge.

It's a quirky, old, well lived in and loved shore house (my favorite kind) in the town I love the most, the town I grew up going to - Ocean City, NJ. I almost cried at the settlement table when the old owners talked about how great it's been for them for the last 20 years and how hard of a decision it was to sell.

We'll rent out the main house during the season (and off if there's interest) and use the efficiency on the bottom. If you're looking for a rental four short blocks from the beach in OCNJ, contact us.

Thanks to the universe for the opportunity and the few good bounces when we needed them, to MFD for once again representing his most difficult client in a transaction (me, his wife, with incessant questions he has to answer immediately even if they have no actual answer and are still up in the air), to those closest to us for their support and encouragement during this stressful ride, and to the benefits of hard work. I never in a million years thought I'd be sharing any news like this and I'm beyond grateful to find myself here, but I know it wasn't magic. It wasn't something that happened to us, it was something we made happen with hard work from both of us, professionally and personally. And I'm damn proud and really excited. I'm also nervous - I've obviously never done this before and I know there will be a steep learning curve. But I think we're up for the challenge.

So those generic house projects I mentioned on my fall goals post will be happening at the shore, and I'm sure you'll be seeing them in snippets on TWTW posts as there's a lot I want to get done before we start renting it for summer 2016. I hope you'll come along for the ride.

45 comments:

That's awesome, congratulations!!! my Great Gram lived down the shore and I loved staying with her in the summer. She's gone now and every summer I wish I knew someone who had a shore house. I can't wait to see yours!

I am crying now. And so happy for you both to infinity and beyond. These dreams!!!!!!!!!!!! I love Heart. Dreams do come true and the best is going to keep on coming. You and Mike Doyle are givers. You help people. His work with Code Blue and the homeless has been outstanding and I am inspired to volunteer with you on Thanksgiving. We are the absolute luckiest ducks in the universe. Side note- when I try to type lucky ducks on my phone it autocorrects to licky dicks LOL really??? Anyway proud and elated. I love OCNJ. It is like home!!God and Goddess speed forever.Everyday in every way my life and my loved ones lives are more and more wonder-full (my daily mantra for the past 3-4 years- along with thank yous to the universe constantly) Love, Your very grateful Momma

Congrats to you guys!! My husband and his family have often had the same thoughts but haven't made it a reality yet. I hope one day we can because the shore has held so many memories for them (and now me since becoming part of the family). I can only imagine how much fun you all are going to have, and the memories you'll be making! (And I'll definitely be in contact with you about a rental as we always go down during the summer for at least a week!)Congrats again!! So happy for you guys!!

OMG. I have tears of joy for you as well!! Growing up always equated to someday having a beach house and you have arrived!! So proud of you as always living your life to the fullest! Can't wait to hear all about it!! Congratulations!!! Xoxo

CONGRATS CONGRATS CONGRATS!!! what an amazing thing to cross off your list of life goals!!!!!!! we have always wanted to get a cottage but with these ridic Canadian property prices (like, over $1.5M for a *tiny* POS cottage not even on the water!) that will not be happening soon.

Congrats on the new property! My mom's family owns a house in OC, NJ and everyone takes turns using it. It's been there since the 1930s. There's so many amenities to city life. I don't blame you for not wanting to move.

That's fucking epic!! Congratulations to you both!!! Do you guys have a rental price range in mind? What is the length of rental? I'm sure you are both very excited to get the decoration started on that property! Again, CONGRATS!! :) Have a great weekend Steph! Take Care -Iva

Congratulations!! That is such awesome news! I can't wait until you share pictures. I've never been to the Jersey Shore so I'm excited to see! How wonderful for you guys to have your own shore house to create your own memories in!!

Wow this is huge! Congratulations! This inspires me that maybe some of the dreams we've had for a really long time can become reality- if we make them happen through hard work. Looking forward to reading all about it and your various renovation plans!

Congratulations Steph! I know how special the shore is and I'm so happy for you guys being able to make this dream come true. OC! Outdoor shower! Old, well-loved shore house! (Those really are the best ones.) Many many congratulatory virtual hugs and best wishes!

"I asked myself if we were ready...then I thought what a dumb question to ask... I never know if I'm ready for something until I take the plunge." I 10000% subscribe to this. so happy for you guts. Congrats on making your dreams happen!

Congrats!!! This is such insanely awesome news. I think making goals/dreams come true is about the most fulfilling thing we can do in our lives and you guys have done it! I can't wait to see what this new home and shore time brings you. And I'm super jealous!

Wow Stephanie!!! CONGRATULATIONS! Buying a vacation home is the gift of so many things!! Memories, family time, peace of mind, etc. I am seriously so excited for you! (And my mom is from Bucks County! Loved that I knew where that was :) I am seriously so happy for the both of you and I can't wait to see this come together in the pieces you will share. EXCITING!!! Looking forward to Shit MFD said - organizing the shore house edition.

I about cried for you when I saw this yesterday. It's so amazing that you guys were able to do this. You make looking for a shore house SUPER easy for us to rent :) Especially since Justin surfs 8-9 months out of the year. Congrats!!!

I am so freaking excited for you, and so mad that I missed this when you first posted it! Congratulations!! This is a dream come true, and a version of a scenario Shawn and I talk about constantly, but don't have the balls to execute.

I know I'm late in offering my congratulations, but seriously ... This is amazing! I'm so happy you guys were able to make those daydreams a reality!

I find stories like this really inspiring because I often have a really hard time letting go of the "what ifs" and other worries that go along with making a major life decision. Congratulations on letting go of your fears and taking the plunge!